The City of Glenwood Springs is offering an amnesty period from May 1-July 31, 2017 for un-permitted accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The goal of the amnesty period is to have the living areas be safe for their inhabitants.

Any eligible ADU owner applying for an ADU amnesty permit shall submit a completed ADU permit application provided by the Glenwood Springs Community Development Department. There shall be no administrative or application fees collected for ADU applications for existing ADUs. Application

Yes. Following the application for ADU amnesty, a building inspection of the ADU shall be performed, using the building codes currently in effect. The building inspector will then provide to the ADU’s owner a compliance report describing any defects determined through inspection. All defects identified through building inspection must be abated or remedied by the ADU’s owner within one year of the issuance of the compliance report. During the amnesty period, all applications for ADU permit review and building inspection fees shall be $250.00, which amount shall be paid at the time of application.

Yes. The Community Development Department cannot ignore zoning violations. Owners will have to go through a variance process if the unit does not meet required building setbacks, size requirements, design requirements or other requirements under the Development section of the Municipal Code. . The City shall inform each applicant of design and zoning non-conformities discovered during the review process. The owner of any ADU found to have significant structural or aesthetic non-conformities shall then seek any appropriate variances pursuant to Glenwood Springs Municipal Code Sections 070.030.160, 070.040.050, and 070.050.110. A fee of $100 shall be assessed for the application and review of any variances. The prior existence of any such ADU design or zoning non-conformity shall be considered extraordinary conditions peculiar to the site.

During the amnesty period, all applications for ADU permit review and building inspection fees shall be $250.00, which amount shall be paid at the time of application. If the ADU is found to have design or zoning non-conformities pursuant to Sections 070.030.160, 070.040.050, and 070.050.110 of the Municipal Code and would need to go through a variance process, the owner will be required to pay $100 for the variance application.

Following completion of all necessary improvements and the building inspector’s certification of the ADU, the ADU owner shall be entitled to a sales and use tax rebate for the purchase of materials used to improve the property and made necessary in the building inspector’s initial compliance report. All receipts for such necessary materials shall be submitted to the City for rebate no later than 60 days following the building inspector’s final certification.

No, as long as the shed is 120 square feet or less in size. However, regardless of size, your shed must observe a 10 foot setback from the rear lot line or 7.5 feet where there is no alley; and a 5 foot setback from the side lot line.

Yes. You need to apply for a building permit to replace your windows. You also need to provide the Building Department with U-value of your new windows to ensure that they meet the current energy standards.

Yes, you need to apply for a building permit to replace your water heater, furnace or boiler. Additionally, any work involving gas piping must be handled by a licensed plumber. If your water heater or furnace needs to be replaced in an emergency (on a weekend, for example), go ahead and install the new unit but make sure that you apply for your building permit on the next business day.

You will be required to obtain a permit and may be asked to remove flooring or drywall so that the Building Department can complete its inspection of your work. Additionally, the City's Building Official has the option of attaching a monetary penalty to your permit. Please also keep in mind that insurance companies, building appraisers, and realtors often contact us to verify that we've issued permits.

Call the City's Inspection Hot Line at 970-384-6432. You need to request an inspection 24 hours in advance. When calling, be prepared to provide- *Project address *Permit number *Date for inspection *Preference as to morning or afternoon inspection *Contractor's name and contact person *Phone number for contact personThe Building Inspector will contact you the morning of the inspection to set up a time.

Yes. If you are doing work within the city of Glenwood Springs you must be licensed. If you are working as a subcontractor but are not employed by that contractor, you also must be licensed to work in Glenwood Springs.

Each city or town has its own contractor licensing requirements. In Glenwood Springs you must complete a license application which is available on the Building Department page or by visiting the Community Development Department, 2nd Floor, City Hall. Be aware that some license categories require that you have a BEST card; and, all licenses require that you show evidence of liability insurance at the time you submit your license application. Additionally, if you have employees, you are required to carry worker's compensation insurance.

BEST is Board of Examiners Standardized Testing. A BEST card is evidence that you have passed a written test on the code that applies to your licensing category. The BEST card is recognized by cities and towns in the Roaring Fork Valley and west to the town of Silt.

The City of Glenwood Springs gives the BEST test by appointment only. Call the Building Department at 970-384-6411 to schedule your appointment. Other cities and towns that give the BEST test are Aspen/Pitkin County, Snowmass Village, Basalt, Carbondale, and Silt.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has put together an excellent website featuring GAB detour information, project news, upcoming roadwork, and more. For anyone with questions, CDOT has a public information hotline they can call, as well as an email address.

The Grand Avenue Bridge Project is a $125 million project, primarily funded by the Colorado Bridge Enterprise, a government-owned business entity within the Colorado Department of Transportation. Other contributions from area governments and utility companies were also part of the funding for the bridge project.

The City of Glenwood Springs paid $3 million toward the project. Additionally, the City of Glenwood Springs and the Downtown Development Authority worked collaboratively with CDOT to ensure that details – such as brick, flagstone and ironwork – were integrated into the overall design for the vehicle and pedestrian bridges. These decorative details were designed with Glenwood Springs’ context and character in mind.

Construction of a new Grand Avenue Bridge and improvements to the adjacent I-70 interchange will dramatically change the character of north Glenwood Springs and 6th Street. As a result, the City of Glenwood Springs began a master planning study of the 6th Street corridor to identify streetscape improvements, bike facilities, public parking, and neighborhood gathering areas, and to help shape future design elements of development. The draft plan outlines the vision for property owners, future development, parking facilities, wayfinding and engaging the river. City Council will consider adoption of the 6th Street Master Plan at its regular meeting on June 15.

A project to enhance 7th Street along the Restaurant Row corridor by creating a destination pedestrian environment that will provide space for community events was also envisioned as a result of the Grand Avenue Bridge project. The enhanced 7th Street will improve the entryway to downtown from the historic train station, the south landing area of the pedestrian bridge over I-70 and the Colorado River, and the area underneath the new bridge. The first phase of the project is expected to start in 2018.

In an effort to reduce the peak-hour vehicle impact of City employees during the 95-day Grand Avenue Bridge (GAB) closure, the City of Glenwood Springs is revising the operating hours for City Hall. Starting August 14, Glenwood Springs City Hall will be open 7am to 7pm, Monday through Thursday, and will be closed on Fridays. Although City Hall will be closed on Fridays, the Police Department will be available on an emergency basis. Non-emergency situations occurring during City Hall closures will typically be addressed the following Monday, except for city holidays.

The City Hall drop box will continue to be available to receive documents and payments. Filing and payment deadlines falling on Fridays or weekends will be extended to the following Monday.

Many City employees plan to bike, walk, carpool, participate in the city vanpool, and ride the bus during the detour.

In coordination with RFTA, the City will be providing free, frequent shuttle bus service to and through town. Routes include West Glenwood Mall to the northern end of the Grand Avenue pedestrian bridge, Amtrak to the 27th Street BRT station, and the West Glenwood Park and Ride to the 27th Street BRT station. Visit www.rfta.com for additional information on routes and schedules.

The City is also encouraging the creation of employer-based and private vanpools. Registered vanpools of 6 or more will be issued permits that will allow access to preferred travel lanes. For information on vanpool registration, contact the vanpool registration system.

To encourage pedestrian and bicycle travel during the detour, the City has also worked to increase connectivity throughout the City:

14th Street Pedestrian BridgeCity of Glenwood Springs’ officials on Feb. 16, 2017, celebrated the opening of a new Pedestrian Bridge that spans the Roaring Fork River. This project, which was partially funded with a $350,000 Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District grant, is one of many projects that the city is working on to assist with connectivity during the upcoming detour of the Grand Avenue Bridge. This new pedestrian bridge provides residents with a safe and efficient bike/pedestrian crossing across the Roaring Fork River, and improves access to the Glenwood Springs High School. This bridge was one of the city’s top 5 priorities identified in the long range Transportation Plan adopted in 2015.

West Midland TrailConstruction of the three-quarter-mile long trail segment of the West Midland Multi-Use Path from Lowe’s to the White Water Area is currently underway and is expected to open on June 15, 2017. The project, which includes a section of trail being constructed by RFTA, is intended to provide a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists from the Glenwood Springs Middle School to downtown Glenwood to use during the Grand Avenue Bridge detour in 2017 and beyond. City Council in August 2016 approved $1.79 million for the project, which is also partially funded by a Federal Mineral Lease District grant.

Bicycle WayfindingThanks to a $21,950 grant from the Federal Mineral Lease District, City crews in February installed new bicycle-specific wayfinding signage along the City's trails. The project, which is specifically referenced in the City’s Long Range Transportation Plan, is just one part of the City’s comprehensive efforts to improve wayfinding for residents and visitors. The signs provide wayfinding information to our various trail routes, as well as distance to landmarks. The FMLD grant funded the development of the sign placement framework, sign design, and an initial production run of approximately 70 signs.

E-assist bicyclesThe City is planning to allow limited use of e-assist bicycles on local paved and multi-use trails to make commuting a more viable option during the detour. The City is planning to allow public e-bike usage with the motor engaged on the River Trail/RGT, Midland and Atkinson Trails on a trial basis from August 1, 2017-April 30, 2018.

Bicycle and Trail MapThe City has developed a new bicycle route map that will be available on the City website as both a PDF download and an interactive map layer. The map shows recommended bike routes to and through town, including multi-use trails, bike lanes, sidewalk bike routes, and recommended on-road connections.

Bike ParkingThe City will be installing additional bicycle parking in the downtown area and near transit stops to facilitate additional bicycle travel. The City has introduced a bike rack request program that will allow individuals and businesses to request bike parking at specific destinations. City staff will review the request to ensure compliance with engineering requirements and install a rack at or near that location. A map of City bike racks will be made available on the City’s interactive Map viewer.

Education and InformationThe City is partnering with local advocacy groups to encourage bicycling to and from local events and educate bicyclists and other trail users regarding rules of the road. Volunteers will be distributing information at many City events and are available to give presentations to interested groups and businesses.

The City of Glenwood Springs offers several free, all-day parking lot locations for downtown visitors. On the east side of Grand Avenue, there is the City/DDA parking garage, located at 9th and Cooper, and the Cooper Street public parking lot, located next to the Glenwood Fire Station on Cooper between 8th and 9th Streets. West of Grand Avenue, visitors can park for free in the lot at 7th and Colorado (behind the Italian Underground and Smoke Modern Barbeque), in the lot on the west end of 7th Street by the City’s old Water Treatment Plant, and in the lot to the west of City Hall. Additionally, after 6pm the parking lot at the Garfield County Courthouse and the Library/CMC parking structure become available to the public. During the detour, several locations have been identified for additional temporary parking lots, including at Youth Zone, on Centennial Drive, and at the former Waste Water Treatment Plant (additional parking spaces).

Public Lots on the East Side of Grand Avenue:City/DDA Parking Garage. Located at 9th Street and Cooper AvenueCooper Street Public Parking. Located next to the Glenwood Fire Station on Cooper Avenue between 8th & 9th Streets.

Public Lots on the West Side of Grand Avenue:Lot at 7th and Colorado. Behind the Italian Underground and Smoke Modern Barbeque.Lot at West End of 7th Street. This lot is located across from the park with the art installation featuring giant daisies.City Hall Public Parking. Located on 8th Street just west of the City Hall complex.After 6 p.m. Parking Options:Library/CMC Parking Structure. Beneath the library building are over 100 available spaces.Garfield County Courthouse. A lot along 7th Street that opens up after business hours.

Due to the proximity of Two Rivers Park to downtown, the City will not allow overnight parking at Two Rivers and will reserve some of the parking stalls within the parking for city vehicles and authorized vanpools. Boats and boat trailers will be directed to park at the Centennial lot.

Glenwood Springs Police and Fire and regional law enforcement/fire agencies have been planning extensively over the past few months regarding emergency response during the detour. This includes working with dispatch, medical facilities/hospitals, tow trucks and making plans for emergencies such as wildfire, canyon closure, etc. There are plans to have a dedicated radio channel for regional public safety agencies to use during the detour. Police and fire have also been working to identify potential helicopter landing sites – in case of emergency situations.

Police and fire vehicles will be staged on either side of I-70/Colorado River in order to respond to emergencies.

Glenwood Police and Fire have purchased e-bicycles to aid in response times, allowing police and fire personnel to arrive on scene and stabilize/contain a situation until a patrol car/ambulance/fire engine can arrive on scene. These were purchased in part with the help of a generous donation from an anonymous donor.

Never ever flush trash into the sewer system! These materials are likely to cause a sewer backup because the sewer systems are not designed to handle them. Everything besides toilet paper and normal human waste should be disposed of in a trash can!

Our operators have found many strange items in the sewer system over the years. Some of them include rusty firearms, a full six pack of beer, live snakes, wire bras, full sized towels, plastic containers, tree branches, sediment, baseballs, trashbags and lids.

These should never have found a way inside the sewer system! They cause maintenance nightmares and sewer backups.

NO! The stormwater system goes directly into the river. The stormwater system is designed only for normal surface water runoff. Common contamination sources include car washes, oils from parking lots and waste from agricultural uses.

Please call dispatch at 970-625-8095 and the wastewater line at 970-309-4567. Even discharging an RVs blackwater or greywater tank is illegal. Septage haulers are required to take their loads to plants such as Rifle or up to South Canyon; if they hook into the City's sewer system and discharge, they are breaking the law. Other chemicals can hurt the wastewater plant's treatment process and ultimately contaminate the river.

It's easy! If you provide transit passes or vanpools to your employees, just keep your receipts of purchase and a list of pass recipients and vanpool users. There is no additional paperwork involved. You don't have to file a plan and the IRS does not have to approve your program. You can start your program at any time of the year and can make it as formal or informal as you like. For details or to make sure you are in compliance, consult your corporate accountant or tax attorney.

It is the minimum distance that a building or structure must be located from all property lines. Do not assume that your property line is along a street or sidewalk edge. The only way to determine the exact location of your property line is to have it surveyed.

A building, structure or use is nonconforming if it was lawful at the time the zoning code and subsequent amendments were adopted but now no longer meets the requirements of the zone district in which it is located. Any nonconforming use, structure or building may continue in existence under the following circumstances - • The use may be extended throughout the same building, provided that no structural alteration of such building is proposed or made for the purpose of such extension.• The use shall not be changed to any other use except a conforming use.• A nonconforming building which does not meeting the setback, height or other site requirements may be repaired, maintained or extended, provided that any extension is in full compliance with current provisions of the zoning code.• A nonconforming building which has been damaged or destroyed by fire or other causes may be restored to its original condition, provided that the repair work is commenced within 1 year of such event and completed within 18 months of such event.• Where a single lot recorded in separate ownership prior to March 1, 1965, does not meet the minimum building lot area requirement for the district in which it is located, such single lot shall be considered a nonconforming building lot, and a building situated on such lot shall be considered a nonconforming building, subject to the provisions of this Subsection. Such nonconforming lot may be used for construction of a building allowed in the zone district, provided that all other zone district regulations, including, but not limited to, setbacks are met.Whenever a nonconforming use of land or a building has been discontinued for a period of 1 year, the future use of the land or building shall be in conformance with provisions of the zoning code.

Each zone district includes a list of “special review uses”. These are uses that are allowed but that require the imposition of certain conditions to mitigate any negative impacts that they may have on adjacent properties. All special review uses require consideration by the Planning & Zoning Commission. Refer to Municipal Code Section 070.040.040 for more information about conditions and criteria by which these uses are granted.

Although you can consult the city’s street map, the only guaranteed way to determine whether or not your property is inside the city limits is to contact the Community Development Department at 970-384-6411.

An accessory use is one that is incidental to, but associated with, a specific principal use that is located on the same lot.

An accessory building is a detached subordinate building that is located on the same lot as the principal building, the use of which is incidental to the principal building or use of the lot. Accessory buildings cannot be used for living or sleeping quarters in a residential zone district.

A 24' x 36" copy of the city's zoning map is available for purchase in the Community Development Department, 2nd floor, City Hall. Contact the Community Development Department at 970-384-6411 for current price.

The requirements for designing and locating fences differs depending on whether your property is located in a residential or a non-residential zone district. Refer to the Fence Regulations under this Zoning page.